Chapter 7 #2
After deeming it perfect, he put two thick steaks on the grill and let them sizzle over the coals. Two ears of corn in their husks sat to one side on the rack, along with a covered pan.
“What’s in the pan?” Jo asked.
“Jalapeno cornbread, made from scratch.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, I looked up a recipe. I sliced jalapenos and grated cheddar just for you. If it’s terrible, then I’ll have to pull out another apology.”
Jo chuckled at that. She stood beside him at the grill and watched the flames lick the edges of the steaks. The charcoal popped and hissed, and the smoke curled up into the evening sky.
On the surface, their relationship was regaining its footing.
“Can I ask you something?” she said, thinking about the rest of their issues.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Do you remember why my coffee at the diner is so special?”
Blue turned from the grill and looked at her. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No. Do you?”
“You told me every detail about it. You went on that trip to South America with the other women from your restaurant group. You sat with the cooperative and tasted the coffee at the farm. You came home and talked about it for days. I loved that you had done that.”
He flipped a steak. “And you went to Hawaii to meet Mahina when I had to work because I was covering vacations in the department. You sent me pictures of the coffee groves, and I showed them to everyone at the station. How could I forget any of that?”
Jo stared at him. “I didn’t know you were listening or fully appreciating what I was doing.”
“I might not ask a lot of questions,” Blue said, turning the corn.
“Because I figure you know what you’re doing.
You always have. But I listen to every word you say.
” He set down the tongs and faced her. “I care about you. And I admire what you’ve done with your business more than I’ve probably told you. ”
She hardly knew what to say. All those times his eyes had glazed over, she’d thought he wasn’t paying attention, and she was just filling the silence.
“Thanks for saying that.” She stepped forward and kissed him, and it was almost like old times.
When they pulled apart, Blue rubbed the back of his neck. He opened his mouth to speak, then coughed instead. “Need water, please.”
“Be right back.” She rushed into the house and returned with a glass.
He drank thirstily, recovering. “Thanks. I’m okay now. I need to get these steaks off the grill.”
Whatever he’d meant to say, he wasn’t ready. And if she was honest with herself, she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear it.
“I’ll help you carry things out,” she said. “What do you need?
“I made a salad, too.” He lifted his chin toward the door. “It’s inside.”
They moved around each other in the kitchen, Jo assembling plates and Blue bringing in the steaks and corn. The salad was simple. Spring greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocado, with a mystery dressing in a small bowl. He’d probably searched for that along with the cornbread recipe.
She tasted the dressing with a spoon. “That’s a nice lemon vinaigrette you made.”
“Is it? How’d you know I made it?”
Jo chuckled. “I’ve never seen a bottle of salad dressing in your house.” He’d really gone all out for tonight.
Back at the bistro table, they ate. The steaks were perfectly done, charred on the outside and pink in the center, just the way they liked them. The corn was sweet. With a tinge of barbecue smoke.
“And the cornbread reminds me of what my grandmother used to make.”
“I wondered if you’d notice that. I found her recipe.”
Jo was surprised. “Where?”
“She wrote it down for you once on a recipe card, and I took a picture of it.”
“That was years ago.”
“That’s about right.”
He was trying hard tonight. “This is wonderful, Blue. You outdid yourself.”
“I wanted tonight to be special. Just you and me, no fancy restaurant.”
Jo reached across the table and stroked his hand. “I love what you did.”
They lingered over the meal as the sun set and the stars began to appear.
“So how’s your coffee project going?” Blue asked, pouring the last of the wine.
“It’s coming along,” she said, feeling relaxed. “I plan to meet with Junie and Maileah to brainstorm a crowdfunding campaign for presales to raise the funds for production.”
“That’s smart. I hear Maileah is great at marketing.” He paused. “Has Rocky been helping you?”
Jo nodded. “He’s been very helpful with the financial side. His business background is—”
“Everyone saw you two at the Rockin’ Roll.” Blue laced his hands on the table.
“We were going over his financial projections for the retail rollout.” Now on alert, Jo put down her wine glass.
“Is that all it was?”
“This feels like an interrogation,” Jo said, trying to keep her sense of humor. “Is that what tonight is about?”
Blue met her eyes with a serious gaze. “I’d just like to know. You’re my girlfriend. Tonight is about you and me. I love you, Jo. I want us to get back to where we were.”
There it was again. Where we were.
She flashed a smile, testing him. “What if we jump ahead?”
She loved him. But she was ready for the next step.
“Jo, I didn’t—” He hesitated.
Jo was at a loss for what to do or say now. “I thought you were waiting until Hugo left for university. But that’s been two years now. Blue, you know what I want. Do you want to spend your future with me or not?”
That wasn’t the most romantic of marriage proposals, but it would have to do. She’d hoped he’d do it, but she had to know.
Blue’s face flushed, and he massaged the back of his neck again. “Things have sort of changed, Jo.”
“I’ll say they have.” Feeling the weight of disappointment, she took his plate and rose to do the dishes.
“When will I see you again?” Blue asked, seeming a little lost.
Though tempted to say never, that was unrealistic here on Crown Island. She hadn’t come here to break up, but to give him one more chance.
And he’d blown it.
But neither could she imagine her life with Blue being over. She left the plates in the sink for him to do. She couldn’t stay here any longer.
“I have to go,” she said, holding back tears of anger and frustration.
Blue hurried toward her. “Wait, I’ll take you home. I can’t let you walk home alone, even here.”
Ignoring him, Jo walked out, feeling like she was moving in slow motion in some strange film she didn’t recognize. Blood roared in her ears, blocking whatever he said.
Blue grabbed his keys and caught up with her. He took her hand and led her to his car.
Later that night in her bed alone, Jo stared at the ceiling, tears trickling from the corners of her eyes, her heart shattered. She tried to remember Blue’s last words to her, but she couldn’t.
Everything in her life was moving forward—except her relationship with the man she loved.